GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

shrink

/ʃrɪŋk/ [shrink]
verb - shrank, shrunk, shrunken
1 Become or make smaller in size or amount.
1.1 no object (of clothes or material) become smaller as a result of being immersed in water.
1.2 as adjective shrunken (of a person's face or other part of the body) wrinkled or shrivelled through old age or illness.
1.3 shrink something on with object Slip a metal tyre or other fitting on to (something) while it is expanded with heat and allow it to tighten in place.
2 no object, with adverbial of direction Move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.
2.1 shrink from - often with negative Be averse to or unwilling to do (something difficult or unappealing)
2.2 shrink into oneself - no object Become withdrawn.

noun
informal
A psychiatrist.

Origin
Old English scrincan, of Germanic origin; related to Swedish skrynka ‘to wrinkle’.

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Do not shrink your T-shirts. You will look silly. People may recommend you see a shrink when you wear them.

[Algot Runeman]

whatsoever

/wɒtsəʊˈɛvə/ [wut-so-ever]
adverb
with negative
At all (used for emphasis)
‘I have no doubt whatsoever’

==========

Let's be frank. I have no need whatsoever for the word "whatsoever".
(If you don't want to be Frank, you can be George or Sally.)
(And, if you are from Bahstun, it's pronounced wut-so-evah!)
Whatever

[Algot Runeman]

boost

/buːst/ [boost]
verb
[with object]
1 Help or encourage (something) to increase or improve.
1.1 Amplify (an electrical signal)
2 North American Push from below.
3 North American informal Steal (something)

noun
1 A source of help or encouragement leading to increase or improvement.
1.1 An increase or improvement.
2 North American A push from below.

Origin
Early 19th century (originally US, in boost (sense 2 of the verb)): of unknown origin.

==========

If you need help, just ask me, I'll do my best to give you a boost.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

boost

whatsoever
... if you are from Bahstun, it's pronounced wut-so-evah! ...

Do you aim to boost Bahstun-ease?

[Algot Runeman]

misleading

/mɪsˈliːdɪŋ/ [miss-lee-ding]
adjective
Giving the wrong idea or impression.

==========

Generally, dictionaries are not considered to be sources of misleading information.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

misleading

Not much difference between mapware and malware.
They're both misleading ...

[Algot Runeman]

They're both misleading ...

I am regularly told to go backwards from my house when I head off to a destination new to me. I know how to get to the main intermediate roads better than the map program. The map program works best for me at the "far" end, the part I don't already know.

[Algot Runeman]

outlook

/ˈaʊtlʊk/ [out-look]
noun
1 A person's point of view or general attitude to life.
2 A view.
2.1 A place from which a view is possible; a vantage point.
2.2 The prospect for the future.

==========

Every day, yes, in every way, I look forward to the WotD! i guess you'd say I have a positive outlook.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

outlook

Several years ago, 'twas 2010 I think, I had the opportunity to climb the spiral stairs all the way up to the very top of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, Belgium

Spoiler: show

and enjoy the wide panorama.

The outlook was interesting, not to say spectacular.

Spoiler: show

P.S. In Windows and Firefox right-click the image, select [View Image], left click and scroll left/right, up/down
In other OS's and/or browsers use some similar method or download the image.

[Algot Runeman]

promising

/ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/ [prom-iss-ing]
adjective
Showing signs of future success.

==========

Sid, seen as promising throughout his career, finally retired and only then achieved his long-anticipated success.

[Algot Runeman]

array

/əˈreɪ/ [uh-ray]
noun
1 An impressive display or range of a particular type of thing.
2 An ordered series or arrangement.
2.1 An arrangement of troops.
2.2 Mathematics An arrangement of quantities or symbols in rows and columns; a matrix.
2.3 Computing An indexed set of related elements.
3 literary mass noun Elaborate or beautiful clothing.
4 Law - A list of jurors impanelled.

==========

Bob, "The Boring", took only his typical fare from the broad array of buffet options.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

array

I think that the 66 radio telescopes array in the Atacama desert is not just impressive.
It's stupendous!

[voralfred]

I am devastated by the array of very promising WOTDs I have missed. Clearly, I need a boost.

EPS: Thanks for your suggestion to download your image. indeed, my browser did not allow me to explore it, but the downloading did it."

[Algot Runeman]

neighboring
(British neighbouring)

/ˈnābəriNG/ /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/ [nay-bore-ing]
adjective
Next to or very near another place; adjacent.

===========

Owners of actual mansions or even Mac-mansions prefer that infrastructure like high tension electric transmission lines be, at worst, in the neighboring town.
From that wish we also have the acronym NIMBY (not in my back yard).

[Algot Runeman]

stationery

/ˈsteɪʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/ [stay-shun-airy]
noun
mass noun
Writing and other office materials.

==========

Here in the digital domain, we do not need stationery for our communication, yet we CAN still paper over our differences.

[Algot Runeman]

phenomenon

/fəˈnɒmɪnən/
noun phenomena
1 A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.
2 A remarkable person or thing.
3 Philosophy - The object of a person's perception.

Origin
Late 16th century via late Latin from Greek phainomenon ‘thing appearing to view’, based on phainein ‘to show’.

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Over the years, Adam Vinateri has been considered a kicking phenomenon. Today he proved he is merely human.

[Algot Runeman]

stereotype

/ˈstɛrɪə(ʊ)tʌɪp/ [stare-e-o-type]
noun
1 A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
1.1 A person or thing that conforms to a widely held but oversimplified image of the class or type to which they belong.
2 A relief printing plate cast in a mould made from composed type or an original plate.
verb
[with object]
View or represent as a stereotype.

Origin
Late 18th century from French stéréotype (adjective).

==========

In many ways "iconic" is on the positive end of the stereotype spectrum, assuming there is such a spectrum.

[Algot Runeman]

pumpkin

/ˈpʌm(p)kɪn/ [pump-kin]
noun
1 A large rounded orange-yellow fruit with a thick rind, the flesh of which can be used in sweet or savoury dishes.

Origin
Late 17th century alteration of earlier pumpion, from obsolete French pompon, via Latin from Greek pepōn ‘large melon’ (see pepo).

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All day, I've been trying to convert an imaginary pumpkin into a 3D printable Jack o'Lantern.

[Algot Runeman]

phantom

/ˈfantəm/ [fan-tum]
noun
1 A ghost.
1.1 A figment of the imagination.

Origin
Middle English (also in the sense ‘illusion, delusion’): from Old French fantosme, based on Greek phantasma (see phantasm).

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Ten times over, the phantom came.
My own mind was sure to blame.
With all those creaking, spooky thoughts
And Halloween's not 'till tomorrow. Ain't that lame?

[Algot Runeman]

terrify

/ˈtɛrɪfʌɪ/ [tare-ih-fie]
verb terrifies, terrifying, terrified
[with object]
Cause to feel extreme fear.
as adjective terrified ‘he is terrified of spiders’
with clause ‘she was terrified he would drop her’

Origin
Late 16th century from Latin terrificare, from terrificus ‘frightening’ (see terrific).

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None of the adorable costumed children actually terrified us when they called out "Trick or Treat", standing at the top of our front steps.

Silly alternate sample sentence:
The ghost terrified the sheet so completely it turned into terrycloth.

[voralfred]

Aren't pumpkins and terrifying phantoms rather stereotyipical at Halloween ?

[Algot Runeman]

Aren't pumpkins and terrifying phantoms rather stereotyipical at Halloween ?

I'm shocked, practically speechless!

How else would you expect it to be?

Should we be more concerned with spring flowers at this time of the year in the northern hemisphere?

(Well, considering the warm winds of phantom? climate change...maybe spring flowers are part of the fall scenery.)

[Algot Runeman]

likewise

/ˈlʌɪkwʌɪz/ [l̅ik-wize]
adverb
1 In the same way; also.
1.1 Used to introduce a point similar or related to one just made.
2 In a like manner; similarly.

Origin
Late Middle English from the phrase in like wise.

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Bob heartily greeted his friend, "A good morning to you, Charlie!"

Charlie, with a flourish of his arm over his head called out, "Likewise, Pal!"



[To our Flemish speaking participants: Vansgelijke!]

[Algot Runeman]

virulent

/ˈvɪrʊl(ə)nt/ /ˈvɪrjʊl(ə)nt/ [veer-you-lent]
adjective
1 (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
1.1 (of a pathogen, especially a virus) highly infective.
2 Bitterly hostile.

Origin
Late Middle English (originally describing a poisoned wound): from Latin virulentus, from virus ‘poison’ (see virus).

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Memes spread through culture because they behave like a virus, caught by one connection after another. Sadly, some are also negatively virulent.

[Algot Runeman]

interval

/ˈɪntəv(ə)l/ [in-tur-vul]
noun
1 An intervening time.
1.1 A component of activity in interval training.
2 A pause or break in activity.
2.1 British A period of time separating parts of a theatrical or musical performance.
2.2 A break between the parts of a sports match.
3 A space between two things; a gap.
4 The difference in pitch between two sounds.

Origin
Middle English from Old French entrevalle, based on Latin intervallum ‘space between ramparts, interval’, from inter- ‘between’ + vallum ‘rampart’.

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It is with some satisfaction that WotD has progressed through many words with mostly no interrupting intervals.